Education pro takes on new role

Eliza Sorte-Thomas cherishes the relationships and friendships she has made as her career in education continues unfolding in new ways, from Bigfork to Bangladesh.

“I would say my student teacher supervisor, my very first elementary team supported me in such a way that made me feel like from day one I had something worthy to share,” Sorte-Thomas said. “People kept giving me opportunities. Then you feel like I have an obligation to speak up for people who might not feel comfortable speaking up.”

Sorte-Thomas, 44, is the definition of “vivacious,” and speak up she did with enthusiasm and candor. One of the many hats Sorte-Thomas wears in education is serving as a national speaker. Sorte-Thomas recently returned from presenting in Las Vegas at the SDE Administrator Summit in Las Vegas — her name tag decked out with the titles of “presenter, author, innovator and math guru.”

After 10 years as director of the Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative, Sorte-Thomas has started a new position at Flathead Valley Community College as a full-time faculty member and the new director of early childhood education.

While her entire career has been in education, this was not her original intent when she left her hometown of Wolf Point to enroll in pre-law the University of Montana.

“My dad was a judge,” Sorte-Thomas said. “ I just always thought I’d be a lawyer.”

Serendipity stepped in when she was required to take an art class.

“The only art class available that fit my schedule was teaching elementary students art,” Sorte-Thomas said.

As part of the coursework, Sorte-Thomas was required to go out and teach children art. After the experience she changed her major to elementary education.

“It kind of fell into place like all good things do and the hardest part was telling my dad I wasn’t going to go into pre-law, and yet, his whole piece was, if you are happy, do what you love and we’ll support you whatever you choose,” Sorte-Thomas said.

Like many educators, Sorte-Thomas’ career began in the classroom. She student taught in Bigfork, the town where he mother grew up, and got a position at West Valley School where she taught for five years.

After the death of her father, she reflected on life. A friend encouraged her to teach abroad.

“I thought, why not,” Sorte-Thomas said.

She attended a career fair featuring international schools in Canada and, “Bangladesh was hiring.” Sorte-Thomas set off to teach at the International School Dhaka in Bangladesh.

“I don’t even know how to quantify what I learned. It was an absolute life-changing experience,” Sorte-Thomas said smiling. “My main method of transportation was a rickshaw.”

WHAT SHE realized during her time teaching abroad that while there are many differences between cultures, the human spirit is similar all over.

“You really realize people aren’t that different everywhere you go and yet because of where I grew up and was educated — I had this leg up that some people never have the chance to have,” she said.

She taught in Bangladesh nearly two years when the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 happened. Back home, she said her mother wanted her to come back home, concerned how far away she was and the rapidly changing world political climate.

Sorte-Thomas returned to the U.S. and took a teaching position in Colorado, but the friendships she made in Bangladesh were lifelong.

What she also learned from her experience abroad was an eye-opening reliance on people to understand and speak English. Most of her students in Bangladesh were multilingual, and once in Colorado, the majority of her students were learning English as a second language (ESL).

“So I got master’s in multicultural, bilingual and ESL education,” Sorte-Thomas said.

While in Colorado, friends from a Flathead Valley book club she belonged to alerted her to the Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative opening. It was an opportunity to return to return to the Flathead.

“I wasn’t expecting to get it because I was a classroom teacher applying, but they took a risk on me and 10 years later I’m leaving the co-op and coming here to the college, which feels crazy,” Sorte-Thomas said.

As director of the co-op Sorte-Thomas assisted member school districts in Flathead, Lincoln and Sanders counties with professional development and support services. She now worked with teachers and administrators instead of elementary students.

As a life-long learner, Sorte-Thomas’ philosophy is that with anything in life she doesn’t have to know it all, rather, know how to use her resources to seek out others’ knowledge and expertise.

“I figured out I can do pretty much anything I set my mind to with the right people,” Sorte-Thomas said.

THE DECISION to take the position at Flathead Valley Community College also came unexpectedly. The opening was brought up during a lunch conversation.

“The consortium job I love and believe wholeheartedly in what it does, but I kind of felt like I’ve given it all my skill set and it’s thriving so it was a perfect opportunity to transition, and it will mean less nights on the road,” Sorte-Thomas said. “More importantly someone told me once, one of my mentors, that you should go where you’re going to have the greatest influence.”

Sorte-Thomas is one who likes to take on new challenges. The community college position will allow her to wear more than one hat so “that no hat gets worn out,” she said.

“One foot in the comfort zone and one foot always pushing out,” Sorte-Thomas said with a laugh.

One of the aspects she is most excited about growing the number of teachers in the valley by reaching out to high schools and strengthening opportunities for people to earn teaching degrees while staying in the valley.

When not on the job or on the road presenting, Sorte-Thomas loves to read and has belonged to book club in the valley for 22 years, participating even when abroad or out of state.

“Once you’re in the book club, you’re always in the book club,” she said.

She is also working on a third teacher-support book focusing on visual and sketch note-taking.

She also loves to go “glamping,” — “Which is my glamour camping because I have to have electricity and a Keurig and air conditioning,” Sorte-Thomas said laughing.

Sorte-Thomas, her husband Jake, and mother Anne live in Kalispell with two dogs, a Maltese Shih Tzu mix and a pug that is “the last pug standing,” of what used to be a pug grumble.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.